Page 86 of Hell House
I realize with a pit forming in my stomach that Emmet could have easily tipped off the headmaster with that information. The guy was a tech genius, able to hack into anyone’s business at the swipe of a thumb. I can’t believe how stupid I was to overlook that. After what we’d done with Salem last night, I assumed Emmet was on the same page, but maybe he was just playing us.
The headmaster clicks back the gun. I can hear the shell slide into place, ready to annihilate anyone one the receiving end. He can’t hurt her, he needs her.
Salem stands with her hands raised- her face drained of any color.
“Stop this.” I demand. He scowls at me.
“I wouldn’t have to do this if you had just done your job.” He spits out.
“What is he talking about Pierce?” Her big green eyes fill with tears, and I feel my heart break. I was a fool to think I could hide this from her.
“Yes, Pierce. Would you like to enlighten your little witch about what you did to her? Emmet, tie her hands up. It’s time we take back what’s ours.”
Salem’s eyes whip to Emmet, her head shaking back and forth. “Emmet, no. Please.”
“Sorry, Salem. I need to do this.” He wraps her hands up in a zip tie the Headmaster handed to him. My mind is whirring with thoughts on how to stop this. Salem has tears streaming down her face and I know she could never forgive me. It wouldn’t take much for the Headmaster to swing his gun straight at me, so I need to plan this right.
“Make sure you tie up the others.” He directs Emmet.
“Pierce. What a disappointment. You can still fix this, you know. Join us and I’ll make sure you’re set free.” I don’t trust a word he says, knowing the depths of his cruelty, but if I tag along, maybe I can stop this.
“Oh, wait. That’s right. You’re a traitor. Emmet make sure he’s tied up too.”
Emmet comes around me and tries to take my hands, I shove him hard, which has me looking down the barrel of a gun and my spine straightens. Emmet uses that moment to force my arms behind my back and into a zip tie, making sure to knot my ankles together as well.
“Let’s skip the dramatics, shall we?” The Headmaster growls, a murderous gleam emanating from his eyes.
“P-Pierce.” Salem calls.
“I’m so sorry, baby.”
“Shut up. The two of you. Emmet, grab the girl.” The Headmaster leaves us as Skye lets out a sob.
Emmet snatches Salem up by her arm, to which she responds by spitting on him. I feel a flutter of Pride watching her. He hauls her out of the room, leaving us bound and helpless on the kitchen floor.
I’m coming for you, baby. Don’t you worry.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
Salem
Emmet’s nails dig into my arm as he drags me down the path behind the house. The figure I’m following is just like the one from my dream. Dark and ominous, decrepit Headmaster Hayden. I hadn’t ever seen his face in the dream, but the way he carried himself fit.
“Why are you doing this to me, Emmet?”
“You’re the key to making my dreams come true little witch.” I flinch at the nickname Pierce had given me. What did the headmaster mean by ‘tell her what you did’? What was Pierce’s involvement in all of this? What did they want with me? My head swims with questions that I have no answers to.
“What do you mean by that? Where are you taking me?” My body pimples with the chilled air. I was wearing nothing but a black cami and matching underwear. I hadn’t even put on shoes before I was being tied up and carted out the door.
They don’t answer, instead they lead me over the path I’d taken not too long ago when I was exploring the cave.
If they were taking me there now, were they the cause of the pentagram in the sand that I had found? What did I have to do with any of this?
“Don’t act like you don’t know why you’re here.” Emmet spits. “I saw the way you wielded that lightning bolt, like it was nothing.” My head snaps to look at him. His jaw is set as he looks ahead with determination.
“I don’t know what you want with me.”
He lets out a humorless laugh.
